Chapter 45: Drunk

It was Friday evening and Harry was just getting back to his dorm from dinner. He sighed as he set his schoolbag on the floor beside his bed. The pack Sev had given him fell out. I guess I forgot about this. He opened it and found it full of cookies. A smile graced his face and he ate one. Just as he was about to pull out some books and start studying for his Monday exams, Ron entered. "Hey, mate!" He said excitedly.

"What's up? Harry asked.

"There's a party tonight in the Room of Requirement. A bunch of us are going, you should come!" Harry thought it over for a bit. He'd been so overly preoccupied with studying, thinking about Fred, and how to ask Severus if he could stay with him, he hadn't talked to anyone much since Wednesday. A party could be good for me, he reasoned.

"Sure, I'll come," he said and Ron's eyes lit up.

"Fantastic!" He exclaimed and started fishing though his trunk. Eventually he pulled out a galleon.

"What's that for?" Harry asked.

"Oh, there's an entry fee, but after that, everything's free." Harry smirked and grabbed some of his money as well.

"Is Hermione coming?" Ron shook his head and Harry shrugged.

At midnight Harry and Ron sneaked out of their dormitory and made it to the party. Once they paid, they stepped through the stone door and found themselves in what could have passed for another world entirely. It was nearly pitch-black, but there were strobes and black-lights. People were packed so close together on the dance floor there was little room to navigate. Music blared and Harry could feel the pound of the bass in his chest. He smiled and made his way across the dance floor, to the bar. Should I drink? Why not, there's a first time for everything. Maybe I can forget for a while… I've heard it lets you do that. Plus, I don't feel much like dancing, he thought as his mind inched closer to his darker thoughts. He got himself some drink with a strange name and took a sip. It tasted dreadful, but he was grateful to have something in his hand to prevent him from dancing. He'd already lost Ron to a girl willing to grind with him. Harry walked around between packed tables and couches, sipping his god-awful drink. He noticed Ron on the dance floor, his hair gave him away.

When Harry finally made eye-contact with Ron, Ron flashed a smile and turned his attention back to the girl by his side. Harry finished his drink and went back to the bar. "Something sweeter this time?" He asked the bartender, who nodded and handed him another glass. Harry took a sip. This one was sweeter, he thought. He took a seat at the bar and noticed Fed was sitting next to him.

"Hey, Fred," Harry yelled over the music. Fred glanced at Harry, looking miserable. "What's wrong?" Fred reached into his pocket and pulled out a pen, he wrote on a napkin.

I miss Angel. He would have loved it here. He handed Harry the pen, not wanting to strain his ears. Harry had to squint to read the words.

I'm sorry, I wish there was something I could do. His handwriting was messier than usual.

Me too, Fred wrote, George thought maybe I would find someone here tonight, but I won't. I just want to go back to my room and sleep. I'll see Angel in my dreams.

Then go back to your room. It'll be quieter than here. Fred nodded, taking the pen and napkin. He stood and left.

Harry finished his drink far more quickly than he should have; but got yet another, staggered away from the bar, and past a group of guys passing a joint around. The music was starting to hurt his ears and the colours around him were blurring together. He took another sip from his cup before he abandoned it on a table next to Draco and Krum making-out on an old leather couch. He staggered out of the party and down the quiet hall. He was dizzy and had no clue where he was going.

Eventually he found himself in the dungeons, and managed to get to the door of Snape's chambers. He wracked his brain for the password but couldn't come up with it. He tugged on the portrait, but it didn't budge. He banged a fist against it in frustration. "Fuck," he muttered. That hurt.

A moment later the door opened to reveal a very confused and slightly pissed off Snape. "Potter? What are you doing here?" Harry lurched awkwardly forward and Severus caught him. "Potter!" Harry righted himself and smiled at Snape. "What are you doing?" Severus could smell a muggle drug on Potter's clothes but he didn't think the boy was high.

"I'm jusss tryin' to get to you," Harry slurred.

"You're drunk," Snape stated flatly. He never expected a student, much less Harry, to come to him in a drunken stupor.

"I'm n-not drunk Ssssevverrussss Sssnape. Yoooourrrname is fun to sssay," he giggled. Severus sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Come on, Harry let's get you inside." He put an arm around him and led him through the threshold.

"Professsssor…." Harry stopped walking, shook Sev's arm off and faced him.

"Yes?" Snape asked with mild irritation. At least he's standing on his own now.

"I feel really—" he promptly vomited on Severus and collapsed at his feet. Snape growled and gagged as he looked at the mess in disgust. He took his wand from his pocket and muttered "Scourgify." The sick disappeared and all that was left was the matter of getting Potter off the floor. He used a levitation spell to move Harry to the bed in the spare room. Harry was out cold. Severus used a spell to change Potter's clothes into pajamas and tucked him in. He left shaking his head and returned to the library where he had been reading prior to Potter's intrusion. Drunk. Potter is bloody drunk. He grumbled a bit as he settled back in his chair and opened his book again. About an hour later, Harry was walking out of the bedroom.

"Potter! Go back to bed!" He didn't need Harry staggering through his quarters messing things up at this hour.

"I wanna sssit byyou Sssev." Shit, he's still slurring, Severus thought as Harry walked over and sat on the floor by his feet.

"Are you hungry?" The thought of food made Harry feel sick again, but Snape was ready this time. He conjured a bucket for Potter in the nick of time. "Scourgify."

Harry looked up at Severus guiltily. "Sssoorrryyyy Professsssor," he chuckled and blacked out again. Sev shook his head disapprovingly at the partially conscious student laying in the middle of his floor, drunk. Last year this wouldn't have been an issue, Severus thought to himself and went back to his reading. This happened another five times before Harry fell asleep for good. Snape put the boy back to bed and set up a few charms to alert him if Harry got up in the night, or what remained of it.

The following morning Harry woke with a pounding headache and a mouth feeling as though it were full of cotton. What the hell? What happened? Where am I? He looked around and gathered that he was in his room in Snape's chambers. How the fuck did I get here? He rolled over and got out of bed. As soon as he was standing the room started spinning and he fell back onto the mattress. Severus walked in a moment later carrying a cup of water. Harry looked at him in confusion.

He hasn't a damn clue how he got here, Snape thought to himself. He pondered how much he wanted to punish Potter for his actions. Thinking back to the night before he decided a lot. "Good morning Harry!" He practically yelled. Tears pricked Harry's eyes and he dove under the pillow. Severus chuckled and took the pillow away. Harry rolled over and stared into his eyes. Events from the night before came flooding back. Oh SHIT!

Severus watched as realization crept into Harry's features. The boy's eyes grew to the size of saucers, his shoulders sagged, his breathing increased, and he stared guiltily at Snape.

Shit, what do I say to him? I think I puked on him? Maybe? Yes I did. Everything came back to him all at once. He remembered everything except for how he got to Snape's chambers. Harry tried to talk but his voice was so scratchy he didn't succeed in making anything more than a chocked sob. Snape handed him the glass of water and he drank it slowly. Severus patiently waited.

"I'm sorry," Harry rasped, his cheeks turning a violent red. Sev laughed, actually laughed. Harry flinched at the louder noise and Snape smirked.

"Its fine, Harry. How are you feeling?" He asked with genuine concern.

"Like shit. I've never been drunk before. Hell, I'd never drank before last night." Harry could see that Snape was amused.

"Drink this," Severus said, handing him a vial, he'd had enough fun and now just pitied the boy trying to stomach the potion.

"Thanks."

"No problem. Just don't let it happen again." Harry nodded. "Do you want breakfast?" Again, he nodded, a bit hesitantly this time. "I'll make something easy on your stomach. Sound good?" Harry smiled and followed Severus to the kitchen.

After breakfast, Harry summoned his schoolbag and worked on homework. He didn't want to deal with the entire hung-over student body. Really, he just hoped Ron and Fred were okay. Severus worked quietly across the table from him, grading papers and coming up with exam questions and potions.

As it neared dinnertime, Harry set down his notes and yawned. "Would you like to dine and sleep here?"

"May I?"

"As long as you're not going to keep me up all night again." Harry blushed and shook his head. "Then you may stay."

"Thanks, sorry again." Severus just smirked.

A/N I figured we needed a bit of a comic relief chapter. It's been so heavy lately. Love you all.